New Life

Today is the day that my friend Heather will be induced to give birth to her daughter, Temple Pryor. I am so excited and honored that she asked me to be there to photograph her coming into the world. Photography is limited at a certain point, but I will get to witness her birth. Yeah! I told H that I would do an artist's representation like they do in courtroom trials where press is restricted, with colored pencils. I asked her what color I would need for her nether-regions. For some reason, she wasn't amused. heh heh

The last time I was in the delivery room, I was the woman on the table and I had so many drugs in me, that I only remember bits and pieces of it. Maybe that's a good thing, since I would prefer to forget the TORTURE I went through. Of course, I told Heather that we as women tend to block out the true HORROR that childbirth is and mostly remember meeting our new gooky, crying, chubby babies.

I remember that it took forever to push those two little 5 pounders out, and that we set a record at the hospital for the longest time between twins. My first daughter was born at 10:18 am, and as she entered the world, she busted my pubic symphysis and also her clavicle. She also wasn't breathing due to her umbilical cord being over her shoulder upon exit. When she took her first breath, she cried, then stopped. Her father didn't hear her cry, but when I asked if he heard her, he kindly lied through his teeth. God love him.

My second daughter apparently was enjoying the room that she now had in utero and refused to come down to join the party. Sitting high up in my belly, she was chilling out. So finally, after using the vacuum suction, and doing what I compare to a tug-of-war or pulling your boot out of the mud, she finally, unwillinging came out at 12:31 pm. She was orange. I had an orange child. Nothing that a little bit of time under the UV lamps wouldn't cure. It was however, a great way to tell the twins apart.

I was just happy that they were healthy and that I could take drinks of liquid again. Ice chips don't hold the same joy that they once had. Yogurt however, never tasted better.

So, today, hopefully if induction goes well, I will get to witness another birth and this time, I get to enjoy the sights without going through pain. Of course, after this, I told H that I will be able to proudly say that I saw my coworkers hoo-hah.

UPDATE: One whole day without much progress. Man, induction takes forever! Of course, I was on drugs back then and time went by much faster.

UPDATE: Baby girl was born on June 20, 2006. She weighed 7lbs 8 oz and was 20" long. She is healthy and beautiful. They were going to name her Temple, but they aren't so sure now. I guess we will see what Mom and Dad pick for her!

Baby Richardson
Originally uploaded by Normalcy Overrated.